Japanese Boy Names: Meanings, Origins, and Etymology

Japanese Boy Names
Picking from Japanese boy names is a popular choice amongst parents nowadays.

Undoubtedly, most of these names have a lovely ring to them. Plus, every character means something significant.

Thankfully, there is no shortage of attractive Japanese names for baby boys.

You may even have trouble narrowing down your options to find the best name for the little guy – we’ve done our best to help you out!

Related: Japanese Girl Names: 600+ Names with Meanings

This article gives you a long list of popular, cute, and cool baby boy names; you’ll also spot some unique names you may have never heard.

Contents

Classic Names & Meanings
Popular Baby Boy Names
Cool Names
Cute Names
Unique Names
More Name Variations
Origins and the Importance of Meaning

Classic Japanese Names for Boys: With Meanings

Classic Japanese names are usually written in the kanji script. These are characters that have Chinese origins but are Japanese in pronunciation.

The pronunciation of a kanji Japanese name is usually open to interpretation, so the hiragana or katakana script is often used when choosing a name.

Traditionally, hiragana and katakana names are not as significant as kanji names.

However, they are still beautiful in their own right.

With that said, let’s look at some classic Japanese baby boys’ names from which you can choose:

Akio

明夫
明 (bright) and 夫 (husband) 

 

Aoki

青木
(blue/green tree)

 

Arata


(new)

 

Asahi

朝陽
(morning dynasty)

 

Haruto

遙斗
遙 (far distant) and 斗 (ladle)

 

Hinata

一陽
一 (one) and 陽 (sun)

 

Hiro

裕 / 寛 / 浩
裕 (abundant), 寛 (generous), and 浩 (prosperous)

 

Jiro

次郎
(second son)

 

Kaito

奏海
奏 (play the music) and 海 (ocean)

 

Kazuki

和希
(harmonious hope)

 

Keiji

恵嗣
恵 (blessed) and 嗣 (succeed)

 

Masao

正男
(correct man)

 

Masaru


(superiority)

 

Nao

直樹
(docile tree)

 

Osamu


(govern)

 

Ren

蓮, 恋
(lotus)

 

Yasu


(guarantee)

 

Yoshio

喜生
喜 (joy) and 生 (living)

 

Choosing a popular Japanese name for your son is a great choice.

It would be considered excellent for the modern time in which your child is born. This way, you ensure that you select a name that wouldn’t seem too odd!

People often wonder what Japanese boy names are hot right now.

Truthfully, there are many options when it comes to popular baby boys’ names in Japanese.

Let’s take a look at some of them below:

Akira

明 / 亮
明 (bright) and 亮 (clear)

 

Daichi

大地 / 大智
大地 (great land) and 大智 (great wisdom)

 

Daisuke

大輔
(great helper)

 

Eiji

永次 / 英治
永次 (next eternity) and 英治 (great peace)

 

Gou


(strong)

 

Hajime

肇 / 元
(start)

 

Hayato

隼人
(falcon)

 

Kouki

光稀
光 (light) and 稀 (rare)

 

Masaki

匡樹
匡 (help) and 樹 (tree)

 

Takeshi


(fierce)

 

Takumi

巧 / 匠
巧 (skilled) and 匠 (craftsman)

 

Taro

太郎
(eldest son)

 

Tatsuo

竜夫 / 龍雄
竜夫 (dragon man) and 龍雄 (imperial man)

 

Tomio


(rich man)

 

Yasuo

康夫(healthy man)

 

Yoshi

義 / 吉 / 良
義 (correct), 吉 (happy) and 良 (pleasant)

 

Yoshiro

義郎 / 良郎
義郎 (correct boy) and 良郎 (good boy)

 

Yuki

幸 / 雪
幸 (happiness, good fortune) and 雪 (snow)

 

Yukio

幸雄 / 行雄
幸雄 (happy hero) and 行雄 (hero’s path)

 

Yuuki

優希
優 (superiority) and 希 (hope)

 

Many people go for masculine baby boys’ names since they sound cool.

For example, a Japanese boy name that means “brave” is Isamu. Many people like this name not only because it sounds cool but also because it has a cool meaning.

But, no matter which Japanese name you choose, it will likely sound pretty cool.

So, let’s have a look at the names we have below:

Haru

晴 / 春 / 陽
晴 (clear), 春 (spring), and 陽 (sun)

 

Hideki

秀樹
(splendid opportunity)

 

Hiroki

弘樹
(abundance of joy)

 

Hisoka


(reserved)

 

Ichiro

一郎
(first son)

 

Isamu


(courage)

 

Jun


(obedient)

 

Kei

恵 / 佳 / 圭
恵 (blessed, lucky), 佳 (excellent), and 圭 (jewel)

 

Ken

健 / 謙
健 (healthy) and 謙 (modest)

 

Makoto


(sincere)

 

Masumi


(true lucidity)

 

Michi


(way)

 

Minoru


(truth)

 

Nobu

信 / 延
信 (faith) and 延 (extend, prolong)

 

Ryo

亮 / 遼 / 諒
亮 (brightness), 遼 (distant), and 諒 (reality)

 

Satoru

暁 / 悟
暁 (dawn) and 悟 (illuminated)

 

Shiro

四郎
(fourth child)

 

Tadao

忠夫
(loyal man)

 

Japanese Baby Boy White Background
One of the coolest Japanese boys’ names is Tatsumasa which means to “stand” or “lead.”

You don’t always have to go for the coolest name though.

Sometimes, a cute name is so much better! Like one of these:

Ai


(love)

 

Akihiro

昭洋
昭 (clear) and 洋 (ocean) 

 

Akito

朗人
朗 (cheerfulness) and 人 (human)

 

Beniko

紅子
(child)

 

Chiyo

千代
(1000 generations)

 

Chiyoko

千代子
(child of 1000 generations)

 

Haruki

春貴
春 (spring) and 貴 (precious)

 

Hiroto

博登
博 (leading widely) and 登 (climb)

 

Kenji

健慈
健 (healthy) and 慈 (to be affectionate)

 

Kouji

交二
交 (exchange) and 二 (two)

 

Kousei

光生
光 (light) and 生 (living)

 

Kousuke

光祐
光 (light) and 祐 (help of god)

 

Kouta

功泰功
(achievement)

 

Mitsuki

光希
光 (light) and 希 (hope)

 

Riku


(harmonious)

 

Syouji

商児
商 (trade) and 児 (child)

 

Touma

灯守
灯 (light) and 守 (protect)

 

Yoshiaki

佳朗
佳 (beautiful, lovely) and 朗 (cheerfulness)

 

Yoshiki

吉城
(luck)

 

Yutaka


(superiority)

 

Unique Names

The above names are all great!

But, if you want some beautifully unique Japanese boy names, you need to take a look at what we’ve got in the list below:

Harushi


(spring)

 

Ichi


(one)

 

Itaru


(pure)

 

Keijirou

啓二郎
啓 (opening), 二 (two), and 郎 (man, men’s)

 

Kyoushirou

亨志朗
亨 (lead), 志 (aspire), and 朗 (cheerfulness)

 

Mikito

未希斗
未 (not yet), 希 (hope), and 斗 (ladle)

 

Oushirou

凰史郎
凰 (firebird) and 史 (history)

 

Reiichi

麗壱
麗 (beautiful) and 壱 (one)

 

Rukia

輝樹
輝 (bright) and 樹 (tree)

 

Rukito

るきと
Both the hiragana and katakana are meaningless

 

Shigeki

慈生
慈 (be affectionate) and 生 (living) 

 

Syouei

匠栄
匠 (artisan) and 栄 (flourish)

 

Syungo

俊五
俊 (outstanding person) and 五 (five)

 

Syuntarou

俊汰郎
俊 (outstanding person) and 汰 (too many)

 

Tamahiro

玉博
玉 (ball) and 博 (leading widely)

 

Touga

冬河
冬 (winter) and 河 (river) 

 

Waichirou

羽市
羽 (wing) and 市 (city)

 

Wakuto

惑斗
惑 (bewilder) and 斗 (ladle)

 

Yui


(emphasis)

 

Yuui

佑道
佑 (help someone) and 道 (road)

 

More Variations of Japanese Boy Names

Mother and Child
With a vibrant history spanning millennia, Japan has a deep and rich name culture to explore.

Likewise, there are thousands more names to discover with equally many kanji combinations.

Want to find what the most beautiful name in Japanese is? You certainly will find one below:

Kensyou

賢尚
賢 (smart) and 尚 (precious)

 

Manabu

真愛武
真 (true), 愛 (love), and 武 (ferocious)

 

Reiji

伶士
伶 (clever) and 士 (samurai)

 

Ryouga

凉雅
凉 (cool) and 雅 (refinement, elegance, grace)

 

Wakana

和奏
和 (calm, harmony, peace, concord, serenity) and 奏 (play the music)

 

Wakato

稚人
稚 (juveniles) and 人 (human)

 

Wakou

倭光
倭 (ancient japan) and 光 (light)

 

Waku


(spring)

 

Wataru

航流
航 (boat) and 流 (flow)

 

Wato

和都
和 (calm, harmony, peace, concord, serenity) and 都 (capital)

 

Origins of Japanese Names: The Importance of Meanings

Japanese names have a beautiful history behind their names. From what the name means to the characters used; everything has purpose.

A Japanese name connects you with your Japanese family.

Interestingly, it also helps you connect with family history; for this reason, the importance of meanings in Japanese naming is so important.

As early as 300 BC, Japanese families were organized into clans. The names of these clans were used as family names.

More often than not, these names were based on occupations or other features of the clan members.

In addition to their clan’s name, people were also given honorific titles. These titles hold a lot of weight, even to this day.

There is another reason why the meaning behind a Japanese name is important – the name essentially embodies the qualities the name-bearer should have.

For instance, a manly Japanese name is Akio which means “hero” or a person who is “manly.”

Thanks to this rich history, a Japanese name’s meaning is significantly important This is a factor that greatly adds to its beauty.

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David Woods Autho Bio Picture
David is the pet lover behind My Pet's Name. He is a member of the Dog Writers Association of America, holds two degrees and has studied Applied Animal Behavior and Welfare. As well as writing, David has helped over 2 million people choose the best name for their pet.

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